(Berlin, 2004)
I and ِAl-Hayyat Newspaper : The Adversary as Judge
In its coverage of Arab participation in Frankfurt, the newspaper Al-Hayat published a report by the journalist Abdo Wazen that included unjustified accusations against the German writer Günter Grass regarding his joint reading with me at the ARTE pavilion during the book fair. In accordance with the principles of journalistic professionalism and objectivity, I wrote a response clarifying the events and my position. However, Al-Hayat inexplicably forwarded my reply to the same journalist, who abridged it according to his own preferences. The response was subsequently published in a truncated and distorted form, which compelled me to republish it in full.
I am not accustomed to writing about events I have organized, nor about my personal achievements, nor to responding to those who offend me. Yet on this occasion, I found myself obliged to do so for several reasons: first, the magnitude of the cultural event; and second, the lack of fairness and objectivity exhibited by a colleague for whom I hold respect. I have often overlooked the offenses of others so as not to dignify them with a response, but repeated exposure to insinuations, insults, and minor conspiracies has only strengthened my resolve. For this reason, I find it necessary to recount the full narrative in its proper context.
Despite certain organizational shortcomings in the Arab cultural program in Frankfurt, the East–West Diwan Foundation, which I oversee in Germany, organized two thematic days: one dedicated to Iraq and the other to Yemen—a country that supported the early stages of Arab–German cultural dialogue in 2000 through a poetry festival for German-language poets and poets from the Arab world.
The Iraq Day featured prominent writers and artists, many of whom had lived through wars and the devastation of sanctions. Iraqi culture was represented in both its Arab and Kurdish dimensions through figures such as Fuad al-Takarli, Khalil Shouqi, Ali al-Shalah, Khosro al-Jaf, and Aziz Khayoun. The event was distinguished by the diversity of its contributions and the intense discussions that followed the readings. After the authors presented their texts in Arabic and Kurdish, Professor Birgit Schock read the German translations. The session moderator, the orientalist Leslie Tramontini, opened the floor for discussion on the future of Iraq and the challenges facing Iraqi intellectual life.
A participant posed the question: “An occupier never declares itself as such; there are always justifications. This war began with falsehoods. What, then, is the position of writers regarding resistance today?”
Khosro al-Jaf responded by emphasizing Kurdish suffering under Saddam Hussein and expressing gratitude toward the United States for ending that regime, while affirming that all Iraqis oppose occupation and that resistance exists in all occupied contexts—yet distinguishing between resistance and acts of terror.
Ali al-Shalah highlighted the distinction between the American project and the Iraqi national project, emphasizing that Iraqi aspirations for freedom predated American intervention and came at great cost under dictatorship.
Khalil Shouqi offered a more pessimistic reflection, invoking Machiavelli’s maxim that “the end justifies the means,” and pointing to Iraq’s wealth—natural, historical, and cultural—as a central factor in its targeting, as well as the systematic destruction of its intellectual and cultural infrastructure.
Aziz Khayoun described Iraq as caught between conflicting forces: one seeking its erasure, and another aiming to reshape it according to external geopolitical agendas.
Fuad al-Takarli, although initially reluctant to speak, ultimately emphasized two fundamental truths: the criminality of Saddam Hussein, now a matter of history, and the problematic reality that his removal came through external intervention. He warned against trusting American intentions and stressed that Iraqis are fully aware of both the internal oppressor and the external occupier.
The Yemen Day, however, was transformed into a major cultural event by the presence of Günter Grass (Nobel Prize, 1999). His participation elevated the event into a significant moment of Arab–German cultural exchange. Following a joint reading with me at the ARTE pavilion, he was invited to the Diwan pavilion, where he received the Diwan Cultural Creativity Award. In his address, Grass spoke of Arab civilization and its spirit of tolerance, countering dominant narratives in Western media, particularly after 11 September. He emphasized the foundational contribution of Arabic storytelling traditions, such as One Thousand and One Nights, to world literature.
Grass concluded by affirming the necessity of sustained dialogue, despite challenges.
While German media regarded his participation as a major success for Arab culture, reactions within certain Arab circles were markedly negative. Some critics appeared unable to accept that such recognition could extend beyond their own expectations. It is important to note that while I invited Grass to visit the Diwan pavilion, it was he who invited me to read with him after engaging with my recently published German poetry collection.
What I found most surprising, however, was the lack of objectivity in Abdo Wazen’s article. It seemed that some assume themselves to be the sole representatives of Arab culture, interpreting any recognition of others as an affront—particularly when that “other” is a woman.
Finally, I express gratitude that audiences who witnessed Grass’s praise of Arab culture will retain that positive image, regardless of the distortions found in certain journalistic accounts.